Science for humanity

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of Science). In striving to advance its mission, the organization's theme for its annual meeting (2 to 5 March in Washington, DC), "Science for Humanity," reiterates its commitment to explore and make sense of the world through inquiry, evidence seeking, and discovery. The words of archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu are a reminder that this pursuit must be shared by everyone if it is to serve all of society: "My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." These words aptly capture the essence of the ties that bind us, which include our shared DNA, our need to bond with others, and our ability to collaborate. Science is intertwined with the human condition and stories of the human experience and is hence the great connector. The more we embrace our common humanity-and science as a unifier-the better we will understand what it means to be human and what it will take to sustain ourselves and our planet.